From: Jackson Gothe-Snape

If possible, please treat this as an administrative or informal request.

Otherwise, please consider this a request under the FOI Act.

Can you please provide the topics list for briefs created in preparation for hearings of Senate 2016-17 Additional Estimates.

I ask that all fees in relation to this request be waived because the release of the documents is in the public interest. The documents help identify the most important policy areas within the department's responsibilities.

From: Employment - FOI

April 05, 2017

Dear Mr Gothe-Snape,

I refer to your below email to the Department of Employment (the
Department), requesting access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(Cth) (the FOI Act) to “the topics list for briefs created in preparation
for hearings of Senate 2016-17 Additional Estimates.”

Clarification of the scope of your request

The Department does not have a single topics list in relation to all
briefs created for hearings of Senate 2016-17 Additional Estimates.

It is not clear from your request whether your request is for a singular
document that lists the titles of all individual briefs prepared for
Senate Estimates hearings or list(s) describing matters or subjects for
such briefings, noting that multiple briefs may have been prepared in
relation to different aspects of one matter.

As your request does not provide sufficient information to enable the
Department to identify the document(s) to which you are seeking access,
the Department is consulting with you pursuant to section 24(1)(a) of the
FOI Act.

Request Consultation Process (section 24AB)

As required by subsection 24AB(2) of the FOI Act, I am notifying you of my
intention to refuse your request because I am currently satisfied that a
practical refusal reason exists under subsection 24AA(1)(b) of the FOI
Act. This is because the Department does not have a topics list for the
hearings of the Senate 2016-17 Additional Estimates.

However, before making a decision to refuse your request on the above
grounds, I am providing you with an opportunity to clarify or revise the
scope of your request, so that the practical refusal reason will no longer
exist.

You have 14 days from the day you receive this letter to contact me and do
one of the following:

a) withdraw your request;

b) make a revised request by clarifying the scope of the
request; or

c) indicate that you do not wish to revise (or clarify) the
request.

You can contact me by writing to the following address:

Attention: Casey Parsons

Information Law Team

LOC: C12MT1-LEGAL

GPO Box 9880

CANBERRA ACT 2601

Alternatively, you can send an email to [1][Department of Employment request email].

If you do not contact the Department within this period, your FOI request
will be taken to have been withdrawn under section 24AB(7) of the FOI Act.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the
Department’s FOI hotline on 02 6240 7310 and request to speak to me.

Yours sincerely

Casey Parsons

Information Law Team

Information Law, Practice Management and Corporate Advising Branch

Australian Government Department of Employment
Email: [2][Department of Employment request email]